Just found this thread, and I actually have something to contribute.
I worked at a Domino’s in Exeter Township, PA. It was the SOP for the store that all on-duty police officers, all on-duty firefighters, and all military servicemen and women got free pizza. It happened on a weekly basis that they’d come in and get free pizza.
They always, out of principle, gave us what it would have cost anyway, as a tip. I, as a manager, never took the tip and always passed it on to those under me, but it was a nice gesture on their part.
So, no, I don’t have a problem with police officers getting freebies, or anyone else, really, so long as it’s not expected and it’s not something anyone is assholish about. When it gets to the level of bribery, we might have a different story, but free coffee or donuts? No way.
Incidentally, when I came back to Nevada, I tried to implement that policy about giving firefighters, servicemen, and police free shit, and the owner was terrified that it could be construed as bribery of some sort, so it didn’t float.
Some departments have rules against accepting freebies. Many have rules similar to the ones in place for the federal government (I got that lecture, with powerpoint, while in the National Guard). Whatever is offered as a gift must be of little value and it can not be offered in exchange for any special consideration. My department allows us to accept little things like cups of coffee. I always have my wallet in my hand and expect to pay. Sometimes I am asked to, sometimes not. I will always leave a tip. I don’t see a big problem with it. If anyone in the department is perceived to be abusing the good will of local business owners, believe me it is corrected in house.
As to the moonlighting/security guard thing… That is different from place to place. Most departments require you to get permission for outside employment. A lot of guys have outside businesses such as landscaping. Permission is usually not given(never where I work) if the job involves law enforcement. All requests from businesses for security work or traffic help is done through the town. Even though those jobs can only be taken on our days off, we are still on duty. The business pays the town, the town pays us. There are regulations covering how many hours per week/day we can work.
I’d like to clarify again that I don’t have oodles of concern about police officers themselves developing a sense of entitlement or somehow turning it into a protection racket. My concern is primarily with what goes on in the minds of people other than police officers. Proprietors at Establishments B and C worrying that they’ll be pissing off cops if they don’t give out freebies as readily as the proprietor at Establishment A. Customer X in an altercation with proprietor at Establishment A who would otherwise call the cops but doesn’t because she’s seen the cops getting freebies there.
Proprietor at Establishment C getting pulled over for weaving in traffic and told to take a breath test, figuring (without evidence or justification) that the proprietor of Establishment A could drive home pickled to the point of antisepsis and never get stopped.
I know it’s silly, just like I consider it silly for people to prominently display stickers that say they contribute to Police Atheletic League, or put wallet cards of Benevolent Policeman’s Association next to their driver’s license. But people do those things.
Proprietor at Establishment B getting pulled over for a breath test and being convinced that it’s being done as a favor to his rival the proprietor of Establishment A. Not over free cups of coffee, but all the other stuff he figures goes on in addition to free cups of coffee, tip of the iceberg and all that, that Establishment A fellow is clearly “in with the cops”.